Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov sent an official letter to the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism of the European Commission Apostolos Dzidzikostas in connection with the complicated situation at the border crossings between Bulgaria and Greece, caused by the blockades of Greek agricultural producers, the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced.
The letter states that the strike actions are blocking key points and main transit corridors. Heavy goods vehicles waiting to cross into Greece merge with the queues of trucks heading to Turkey, which has led to over 30-kilometer-long queues on the "Maritsa" highway in recent days.
"This not only violates the free movement of goods in the European Union, but also seriously hinders connectivity between Bulgaria, the EU and third countries," Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov emphasizes in his letter.
He calls on the European Commission to draw the attention of the competent Greek authorities to the fact that such actions violate fundamental principles of the EU. Deputy Prime Minister Grozdan Karadzhov insists on immediate measures to implement Regulation (EC) No. 2679/1998, which obliges member states to guarantee the free movement of goods and prevent actions that threaten international transport.
"All necessary steps must be taken to prevent future blockades on key international roads and the border between Bulgaria and Greece", Deputy Prime Minister Karadzhov's letter also states.